She married Prince Leopold of Belgium on November 10th, 1926. The winter followed her everywhere. Despite the precedence for arranged marriages amongst royals, Leopold's mother, Queen Elisabeth - incorrigible romantic that she was, insisted in saying "It is a marriage of love...tell it to our people. Nothing was arranged. Not a single political consideration prevailed in our son's decision."

On August 29, 1935, the recently crowned monarchs left their villa for a last fateful climb in the mountains of Belgium. Suddenly, before arriving at the village of Kussnacht-am-Rigi, Astrid pointed out something to her husband. Leopold took his eyesight away from the road for an instant. Suddenly, the car plunged down a ravine. Queen Astrid was violently ejected from the automobile. Her body lay on the snowy grass near the wreckage. Claimed by the white ground, my Snow Princess was dead.